SANFLW League Match Report – Round 4

Round 4 saw another challenging week for our SANFLW Squad as we took on the only other remaining undefeated team in Glenelg. Only one change was made this week heading into the crucial clash, with Jemma Ellis coming out of the side due to a stress fracture in her leg, being replaced in the side by Olivia Smith returning from a niggle in her shoulder.

Glenelg looked dangerous from the get go, seemingly always being able to find a free player and putting our defense under immense pressure, despite kicking into the wind. Madi Russell was a brick in defense early, applying plenty of pressure and made a couple crucial goal saving tackles. Asha Dufour got on the end of a quick kick forward and was able to convert the only goal of the first quarter and gave us a 4-point lead heading into quarter time.

Glenelg again made our defenders work hard with plenty of inside 50 scoring opportunities. Fortunately continued to be wasteful in front of goal and kept us in the game. Zoe Venning had worked herself into the game well, having 17 disposals at half time and with Glenelg kicking the only goal of the 2^nd quarter we went into half time with a 5-point deficit.

We went into the 3^rd quarter, and our last opportunity to make the most of the wind. We were able to kick a couple of goals heading with the breeze. Lauren Young set up an Asha Dufour goal for her second of the afternoon, and some beautiful crumbing from Olivia Smith saw her kick her first goal for the season. Unfortunately, Glenelg were able to capitalise on their limited inside 50 opportunities that quarter and kicked the only goal into the breeze which was enough to give them a 1-point lead heading into the last quarter.

While no team kicked a goal in the last, Glenelg again had plenty of opportunities to put the game away, but our defense held strong when it mattered. A quick Zoe Venning snap missed to tie the game early in the last quarter. Glenelg again were wasteful but managed to kick 3 behinds in the last which ended up being the final margin of the game and our first loss for the season.

Zoe Venning was superb as always and battled until the end, collecting 28 disposals. Lucy Boyd also collected plenty of the ball in defense with 21 and Jess Chyer applied plenty of pressure in the defensive end of the ground.

Next week we turn our attention to Woodville in a big Good Friday Clash which we will be doing everything we can to hold onto 2^nd position heading into the first bye of the season. We hope to see plenty of people cheering our girls on at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in our first away game for 2024.

Best Players: Zoe Venning, Lucy Boyd, Jess Chyer, Emma Kilpatrick, Olivia Smith, Madi Russell

Goals: Asha Dufour (2), Olivia Smith (1)

SANFLW League Coach – Bruce Dawes